Dick Update

Hi girls,
It's been several months since we have heard from anyone, so I thought I would start the trend. Well, the biggest change in our life is our move into our new home (our very own). YEAH! We closed on Feb. 15th (but we had our rental for another two months so we figured we would spend that time doing all sorts of projects before we are actually living there). I painted and painted and painted. We changed lights and scraped all the popcorn off all the ceilings and then I re-textured the ceilings and painted them (AHH - what a project). We laid wood floor in our entry, dining and kitchen. We replaced some appliances in the kitchen and removed the wallpaper in there. We replaced all the bath hardware (towel racks, etc) in both bathrooms. It definitely looks like a more updated house, and we love it. There are a still things we need to finish up, but it is very liveable. Now we are trying to make some headway on the yard. We have lots of trees and bushes (which are mature enough that they just grow and flourish on their own), but we need to revive our grass. I have my spot dug and prepared to plant a garden - I just need to actually get the plants and seeds in the ground (hopefully this week). It's fun! Other than that life is pretty regular. Caelan has preschool twice a week and dance once a week (she loves them both). There are a couple of little camps (reading, art and dance camps) that I have found out about for the summer for her - I am trying to decide which to have her do. Then she starts Kindergarten in the Fall (HOLY MOLY). I found out the other day that here in Kingman they only do full day Kindergarten, so I am trying to get myself ready to send away my little girl away each day for 6 and a half hours. Ben just turned 3 last week. We are finally making some good headway on the potty training. Megan only has 3 more Sundays before she can start going to Nursery - YEAH! She is a busy little girl - she loves to try and keep up with Caelan and Ben, and they are mostly happy to have her join them. Sean was crazy busy with work at the beginning of the year - a lot of stress, but he has hired some more workers since then which has taken some strain off of him (it's much better now). I stay busy with the kids and working with the Young Women. The presidency just got changed around, but I was recalled as the first counselor again, so no change for me. I love it! I try to get to the gym a few of times a week, and we head over to the library for Story Time every Wed. Oh, and one more piece of news - we are expecting our 4th little one in September. I am about 17 weeks along. I have been feeling great, although I am currently in the awkward stage of feeling too fat for my regular clothes, but not big enough to wear maternity clothes. Well, life is good. I hope things are well with all of you. I was talking to Sean last night about the upcoming Crusader reunion, and it was making me long for a reunion with all of the Uppers. My summer is getting crazier by the week, but we should start thinking about planning something for the sometime next year. Well, I love you all tons.

Tera

Happy New Year

Hi Girls,

Can you believe we are into another new year.... again? We had a great Christmas in Casa Grande with Sean's family. We got to be there for an entire week, which was heavenly. I actually got to see my husband a little bit. He has been so busy at work the past couple of months. He usually leaves by 6 AM, and it is a real treat if he is home before 6 PM. With the slow market they are trying to hire as few people as possible, which leaves him with lots to do. It will get better eventually, but for now he is definitely putting in his hours. We like it here in Kingman quite a bit. Our ward is great. There are lots of young families with kids, which is fun. Sean got called to be the Priest Quorum advisor, and I am the MiaMaid advisor. We love it, but sometimes it gets a little tricky on Sundays when we both teach during the same hour (so far we have had willing volunteers to help watch Megan while we teach). I just love working with the youth.
I definitely keep busy with the three little ones. Caelan has preschool twice a week for 3 hours. She loves it. She is becoming quite the speller, and she has always had a knack for math skills. She also goes to a dance class once a week. A couple of YW from our ward teach several dance classes to young girls. She had a Christmas concert - what a riot! You know how our parents used to get so excited about watching us perform or receiving homemade noodle necklace gifts? As I got a little older, I remember thinking that parents sure put on a good show pretending to love those things, but now that I am in that position it is very clear how genuine that excitement and love is. As I was watching her do her simple dance moves, I was just beaming inside, and her homemade calendar was maybe my favorite Christmas present. I love it! Ben is Caelan's little playmate. Megan is almost old enough to join in on the fun, but for now she often seems to "mess" up their playing. I keep attempting to potty train Ben. I heard that boys were harder than girls, but Man, I wasn't ready for this. He is so stubborn, which is weird because he doesn't have a stubborn personality usually. One day we will actually make some progress. Megan is walking all over the place and exploring anything she can (cupboards, drawers, dirt, etc). She is a real social bug - she loves any and all attention, which makes walking through the stores pretty fun (she attracts smiles from everyone).Life is good. I have been especially busy with getting all the things in order to buy our house. Sean has been working so much that it has been totally ME - from the researching and looking at different homes to calling about info to getting a lender in place and then switching lenders and making the offers, etc, etc. What a learning experience, but it has actually been pretty fun. Our closing date is February 15th. We have a month and a half with our rental and our new house, so we are going to do a couple projects (paint, replace the carpet for hard floor in the dining room), and then move in slowly. The house was lived in by a widow woman for 16 years or so, so it is in great condition (some features are a little dated, but still in good condition). It sits on .86 acres with trees and landscaping and grass. Lots of room for kids to run wild.
Well, that's the news here. I miss you girls. It's fun to hear all the things going on in your life. We should make 2008 a reunion year for the Uppers. I can host it if you want, or we can go somewhere fun, but we should definitely plan something. It's been too long. Well, I love you all.
Tera

Joe's Home

Joe arrived home from Iraq on Monday afternoon. I received the call Sunday afternoon that he would be returning and his welcome home ceremony was scheduled for the following afternoon. Let's just say the next 24 hours consisted of very little sleep.

It was the coolest thing to see 140 soldiers file in and stand in formation as their screaming families with balloons and signs waited to greet them. I brought the video camera and got it all on tape so some days our kids can see it.

Joe had the next 3 days off. He reported to work today but was there about 30 minutes before being released for the day. Next week will be similar and then we'll go on leave. We're going to Florida first, next weekend, and then probably Arizona and then California.

My Colorado State License was approved so I'll start looking for work as soon as Joe goes back full time.

What a blessing to have him home safe. I am so grateful to be on this side of it. It is always so much easier to look back over a trial a little more fondly once it is over than when you are going through it.

Love you all!

Merry Christmas

I wanted to send a Merry Christmas to my honorary sisters tonight. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. We celebrate his coming and birth this season, oh how significant this was. Our Savior, our Lord, our Elder Brother came to earth to live among man. Can you imagine what it was like in our pre-mortal world at that time? I picture it as a time we all held our breath in anticipation as we watched in love and awe knowing this was the start of our opportunity for eternity. I wonder if we were all there, able to usher our Lord into the mortal world sending Him on with our gratitude.

I love you and appreciate your continued friendship. It is so strange how different our lives have become when at one point they were so in sync. But, we hold one true bond that allows us to remain close, our knowledge and testimonies of the Gospel. Thank you for your examples, thank you for your strength.

Merry Christmas,
Jamie

Nichole,

That dress is stunning!! It is totally my taste. I swear I was born in the wrong time period, I really want to wear something like that everyday. You're amazing!!

Merry Christmas

This weekend I moved into our condo in Colorado Springs. I do love it here but it is sure quiet when you are all by yourself. What a blessing to live with my family while Joe has been gone. I'm sure a week in a cozy condo all alone sounds relaxing to you mothers. I've done lots of girly things since I've been here and gotten the condo looking so cute.

I'm flying back to Arizona in just a few days to be with my family at Christmas. Joe leaves Baghdad on Christmas Day, what a present! We have no idea how many days it will take him to get home but most definitely by January 1st. I'll receive a call when he is 12 hours away from Colorado Springs. Exciting!!

I finished up work about a month ago. What a relief to leave that company however, being here all by myself makes me realize how much I enjoy working. We will only be in Colorado until the end of April at which time we will move to Georgia for 5-6 months and then some where else. I do plan to find a job at each location though it will be a little difficult in Colorado since we will be here for such a short period of time. Luckily being young with no children makes all the moving a fun adventure rather than a burden. You are all welcome to come and visit where ever we live. Savannah and my mom are coming to Georiga during the summer so we can visit Savannah, GA.

Though I haven't been working the last month life has been busy. My dad was in the hospital for 12 days (1 week in ICU and 5 days on the floor) for kidney failure and valley fever. They think the Valley Fever ( a fungal infection from the soil specific to the southwest region, settles in the lungs) caused dehydration which allowed one of his daily medications to sky rocket causing the kidney failure. He is feeling much better, stronger and stronger every day. About a week after that I was in a car accident, my first. It wasn't my fault and no one was hurt. Since things like this have to happen in life it truly was under the best possible circumstances. I should get my car back within the next week. Shortly after that Savannah was running at BYU and was hit by a car. She is okay. A few scrapes and bruises. We've been told these things come in 3s so we're done. Crazy!!

I'm so looking forward to Christmas and Joe being home. I'm ready to be normal for a while.

I have so much to be grateful for. I have 6 amazing friends who I love dearly. I am so blessed to have each of you in my life.

Merry Christmas!

Sewaissance

A lady in the church needed help makying renaissance dresses for her daughter's choir. I only had a week to make it, but I think the stlye of the renaissance dress is so beautiful. I am very proud of this dress, I hope everyone likes it!